See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

Hi everyone,I was told in 2008 that I have IBS. I am not 100% sure if this is what I truely have or if it is something different. All I know is that over the past year my symptoms have gotten extremely bad. I go from being constipated for a day or to, to having diarreah. Then it will be great for awhile and I have normal bowel movement (2-3 times a day) The past 2 days I am experiencing severe abdominal pain. It feels like someone is taking razor blades and tearing my insides out. The pain hasn't left me, it is worse when I eat and I am consently burping no urge to pass gas south. I have recently made a change to my diet. I have cut out most gluten products, (pasta and breads.) I eat more salads, fruits and veggies. I don't eat reds meat as it makes me sick. Is there anyone out there that have any suggestions to help me get through this or have ideas to help improve my symptoms or get rid of them. I have missed some work and I would like to know how to make things better so I can get through my day to day life normally, and pain free. All info is welcomed

Thanks for your Reply!

3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:I need adviceHi everyone,I was told in 2008 that I have IBS. I am not 100% sure if this is what I truely have or if it is something different. All I know is that over the past year my symptoms have gotten extremely bad. I go from being constipated for a day or to, to having diarreah. Then it will be great for awhile and I have normal bowel movement (2-3 times a day) The past 2 days I am experiencing severe abdominal pain. It feels like someone is taking razor blades and tearing my insides out. The pain hasn't left me, it is worse when I eat and I am consently burping no urge to pass gas south. I have recently made a change to my diet. I have cut out most gluten products, (pasta and breads.) I eat more salads, fruits and veggies. I don't eat reds meat as it makes me sick. Is there anyone out there that have any suggestions to help me get through this or have ideas to help improve my symptoms or get rid of them. I have missed some work and I would like to know how to make things better so I can get through my day to day life normally, and pain free. All info is welcomed

If you have missed work because of bowel problems, you are VERY likely to have IBS. Doctors are useless in helping people with IBS!!! What you need to start doing is identifying what foods cause you bowel pain. Also, go to an allergist to see if you are indeed allergic to gluten, because you may not be but you may be to some other things. As we age, we become more allergic to things ... even in our environment. Also, have a COMPLETE, not partial check of your tubes. From mouth and entire bowels. They now have a drug that puts you out (and demand it!!!!) so you won't feel a thing as they do a complete endo of your tubes. Have your liver enzymes checked and pancrease blood levels. Don't fall for the "We'll do an outside the lower body ultrasound."

I can no longer eat pork, lettuce and other foods. Sometimes I have extreme diarreah and sometimes extreme constipation. What I have found is unusual help ... a pill of charcoal - yes, charcoal - will stop your diarreah almost immediately. They use much higher levels of charcoal pills for suicide people to kill the toxins in people who try to commit suicide. I went to my very open-minded Target pharmacist who ordered me a bottle which was MUCH cheaper than in a health food store. He saw no problem with it.

Also, as far a pre and pro biotics. One needs to have VERY HIGH levels and the pill manufacturer has to know what they are doing so the biotics preserved in an active manner plus they must be in a pill cover that doesn't desolve in the stomach. I learned on the Dr. Oz show a great tip ... pickled foods have great pre/pro biotics qualities which is why this wasn't such a big issue in the old days. People had the option of pickling and salting food to keep many foods preserved through the winter. I LOVE mini-dill pills and they are cheap!!! So, I started eating 5 to 6 mini-dill pickles per day and boy has that helped!!! Much better than any pre/pro biotic pills I have purchased, and they are expensive.

Last thing ... and I need to this ... is check the enzymes in my stomach. I am now 58 and have had stomach trouble since age 21. I have also worked in high stress professions. I had a spastic colon at age 21, and needed medicine to calm it down. But, if you have trouble with red meat, you may need to check the enzyme level in your stomach. There is an easy way to do it. Frankly, I don't remember it but you can find it on the internet or if you go to a GI specialist who checks your tubes, maybe he/she can get a sample of your enzymes and do some sort of test. Just look up "stomach enzymes" on the internet. There is a test with vinegar.

To give you a heads up ... I now have RH & osteo arthritis plus fibromyalgia. IBS can be the start of these other illnesses. No history in my family. But, there was extensive bloating/gas in both parents so something causes that. Be diligent but don't be crazy. Don't cut out all these foods until you become active in adding support to your diet and have had medical tests. Do you still have your gallbladder? It could be causing all or much of this!!! A blood test can check your gallbladder. I had mine out and life was blissful for a long while.

Find an aggressive GI doctor who understands that your job - and health insurance - is at stake!!! Don't mess around with a doctor who says just take Imodium or that kind of nonsense!!!

Good luck & eat pickled things!!! Hope they help plus the other advice.

Chris

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:I need adviceIf you have missed work because of bowel problems, you are VERY likely to have IBS. Doctors are useless in helping people with IBS!!! What you need to start doing is identifying what foods cause you bowel pain. Also, go to an allergist to see if you are indeed allergic to gluten, because you may not be but you may be to some other things. As we age, we become more allergic to things ... even in our environment. Also, have a COMPLETE, not partial check of your tubes. From mouth and entire bowels. They now have a drug that puts you out (and demand it!!!!) so you won't feel a thing as they do a complete endo of your tubes. Have your liver enzymes checked and pancrease blood levels. Don't fall for the "We'll do an outside the lower body ultrasound."

I can no longer eat pork, lettuce and other foods. Sometimes I have extreme diarreah and sometimes extreme constipation. What I have found is unusual help ... a pill of charcoal - yes, charcoal - will stop your diarreah almost immediately. They use much higher levels of charcoal pills for suicide people to kill the toxins in people who try to commit suicide. I went to my very open-minded Target pharmacist who ordered me a bottle which was MUCH cheaper than in a health food store. He saw no problem with it.

Also, as far a pre and pro biotics. One needs to have VERY HIGH levels and the pill manufacturer has to know what they are doing so the biotics preserved in an active manner plus they must be in a pill cover that doesn't desolve in the stomach. I learned on the Dr. Oz show a great tip ... pickled foods have great pre/pro biotics qualities which is why this wasn't such a big issue in the old days. People had the option of pickling and salting food to keep many foods preserved through the winter. I LOVE mini-dill pills and they are cheap!!! So, I started eating 5 to 6 mini-dill pickles per day and boy has that helped!!! Much better than any pre/pro biotic pills I have purchased, and they are expensive.

Last thing ... and I need to this ... is check the enzymes in my stomach. I am now 58 and have had stomach trouble since age 21. I have also worked in high stress professions. I had a spastic colon at age 21, and needed medicine to calm it down. But, if you have trouble with red meat, you may need to check the enzyme level in your stomach. There is an easy way to do it. Frankly, I don't remember it but you can find it on the internet or if you go to a GI specialist who checks your tubes, maybe he/she can get a sample of your enzymes and do some sort of test. Just look up "stomach enzymes" on the internet. There is a test with vinegar.

To give you a heads up ... I now have RH & osteo arthritis plus fibromyalgia. IBS can be the start of these other illnesses. No history in my family. But, there was extensive bloating/gas in both parents so something causes that. Be diligent but don't be crazy. Don't cut out all these foods until you become active in adding support to your diet and have had medical tests. Do you still have your gallbladder? It could be causing all or much of this!!! A blood test can check your gallbladder. I had mine out and life was blissful for a long while.

Find an aggressive GI doctor who understands that your job - and health insurance - is at stake!!! Don't mess around with a doctor who says just take Imodium or that kind of nonsense!!!

Good luck & eat pickled things!!! Hope they help plus the other advice.

Related Drug Reviews

Report Problems With Your Medications to the FDA

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.